Peter Fred BERESFORD

05 April 1918

BERESFORD - Died in hospital, on the 30th March from wounds received on the Western Front, Lance-Corporal Peter Fred Beresford. of Starbotton, aged 21 years.

26 April 1918

HORTON-IN-RIBBLESDALE - The Late Private Peter Beresford

A memorial service is to be held at Hubberholme Church next Sunday at 3 p.m. in connection with the reported death of Private Peter Beresford, son of Mrs. Beresford, Old Ing, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, aged 21 years. We hope to give more particulars and a photograph next week.

03 May 1918

STARBOTTON - The Late Lance-Corporal Beresford

As briefly announced last week an official communication has been received that Lance-Corporal Peter Fred Beresford, King's Royal Rifles, son of Mrs. J. Beresford, Old Ing Farm, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, died in hospital at Frevent, France, on March 30th, as the result of wounds received in action, and was buried on Easter Sunday. He was well known in the Dale, and highly thought of. Deep sympathy is felt for the mother and relatives. A special memorial service was held at Hubberholme Church last Sunday afternoon, and was very largely attended. The vicar (Rev. R. F. R. Anderton) pointed out that the gallant young soldier was born in the parish of Hubberholme, baptised in the old church there, and always greatly loved the Dale, and his honoured name kept on the parish Roll of Honour; that his short but right glorious life had shed a lustre on the Dale that would never pass away; that his having been taken from France to fight in Italy, and afterwards recalled to France clearly showed that he was counted amongst his country's best and most valiant defenders. The Vicar also remarked that the interment having taken place on Easter Day, telling of the Resurrection morning, made the closing hymn chosen by the family in the Memorial Service beautifully appropriate:-

On that happy Easter morning
All the graves their dead restore;
Father, sister, child and mother
Meet once more.

14 March 1919

DEATHS

Beresford – March 10th, at Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Alan Beresford, late of Old Ing Farm, aged 48 years.

14 March 1919

HORTON-IN-RIBBLESDALE

A GRUESOME DISCOVERY

FARMER COMMITS SUICIDE

On Wednesday afternoon Mr. Edgar Wood, Coroner, held an inquest at Bracken Bottom, touching the death of Alan Beresford. Mr. J. H. Sharp was foreman of the jury.

Mary Dinsdale, wife of Jeffrey Dinsdale, identified the deceased as her brother, aged 48, who had recently been the tenant of Old Ing Farm. He called at her house on Monday morning about 10 30, having brought his horse to the smithy but, as the blacksmith had not arrived, he rode forward to Bracken Bottom. She prepared refreshment for her brother and some five or ten minutes later, having occasion to go out of doors, she saw him lying outside a building. She did not notice any blood. She ran back for her husband, who had just come indoors. Deceased had been somewhat strange for six or eight weeks and seemed rather queer that morning. She had no suspicion of anything untoward happening. He left no letter.

Jeffrey Dinsdale stated that at the request of his wife he went and found deceased lying outside the w.c. bleeding profusely from the neck with a razor at his feet. It was Beresford’s own razor which he must have brought with him. Witness had no reason to think the deceased would harm himself. He last saw him soon after Xmas, and, to his knowledge, he had not made a previous attempt on his life.

Dr. Hyslop deposed that the deceased died from self-inflicted wounds in the throat, the arteries being severed. He saw him professionally some six weeks previous when a complaint was made of pains in the head consequent upon an attack of influenza. No doubt depression was the cause of the rash act.

On the above evidence the jury returned a verdict that “Being of unsound mind, he cut his throat with a razor, inflicting a wound causing almost immediate death.”

Expressions of sympathy with the family are heard on all sides.

28 March 1919

BERESFORD - In ever loving memory of our dear son and brother, Private Fred Beresford, who died from wounds received in action on March 30th, 1918.

"A beautiful memory left behind."

04 April 1919

BERESFORD - In ever loving memory of our dear son and brother, Peter Fred, who died from wounds received in action on March 30th, 1918.

"A beautiful memory left behind."